Cricket

Temba Bavuma's injury woes continue to haunt South Africa as the Proteas captain is now in doubt for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Bavuma was ruled out of the third ODI against Ireland with an elbow injury, raising concerns about his availability for the Test matches starting on October 21.The injury is a recurrence of the same elbow problem that sidelined Bavuma during South Africa's T20 tour of India in 2022. It forced him to miss the subsequent tour of England and has plagued him ever since. Despite making a comeback ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Bavuma has been hampered by a series of injuries, including hamstring niggles and a left hamstring injury sustained during the Boxing Day Test against India last year.Bavuma's absence from the Test series against Bangladesh is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas have six Tests remaining in the cycle, and they need to win at least five of them to have a chance of reaching the final.In Bavuma's absence, Rassie van der Dussen will lead South Africa in the Test series. T20I captain Aiden Markram has been rested for this series.South Africa are also without allrounder Wiaan Mulder for the white-ball series against Ireland. Mulder has left the tour for personal reasons. The Proteas have already taken a 2-0 lead in the ODI series and will play the third and final match on Monday. The preceding T20I series finished level at 1-1.

Shivam Dube Ruled Out of Bangladesh T20I Series with Back Injury; Tilak Varma Named ReplacementNew Delhi: India's preparations for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh have suffered a major setback with the news that star all-rounder Shivam Dube has been ruled out due to a back injury. The three-match series is set to commence on Sunday in Gwalior.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Dube's unavailability in a social media post, stating that he will miss the entire series. The board also announced that left-handed batter Tilak Varma has been named as his replacement.Dube's injury is a significant blow to the Indian team, as he has been a key contributor in the T20I format. In 33 T20I appearances for India, he has amassed 448 runs and claimed 11 wickets.It is understood that Dube's back injury resurfaced during training in Mumbai prior to the Bangladesh series. Despite traveling to Gwalior, the pain persisted, causing discomfort during training sessions.The 21-year-old Varma, who has played 16 T20Is for India, will join the squad in Gwalior on Sunday morning. He has scored 336 runs and taken two wickets in the shortest format of the game.Varma's inclusion in the squad is a testament to his impressive performances for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he has recently been sidelined due to an injury, which prevented him from being selected for the T20I series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.With Dube's absence, India will have to rely on other all-rounders in the squad, such as Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar. The team will also be hoping that Varma can make a quick impact and fill the void left by Dube.

Dwayne Bravo, the legendary all-rounder, has bid farewell to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after sustaining a groin injury during a match against St Lucia Kings. The 40-year-old had initially planned to retire at the end of the 2024 season, but the untimely injury has forced him to end his CPL career prematurely.Bravo's injury occurred while attempting to catch Kings' captain Faf du Plessis in the seventh over. He immediately left the field and did not bowl a single over in what turned out to be his final CPL game. Despite his injury, Bravo returned to bat at No. 11 in TKR's failed chase of 219. He faced just one ball, which struck his thigh, before retiring hurt, visibly emotional."When he pulled up [injured], it looked pretty serious," said TKR captain Kieron Pollard. "He's been a charismatic person and has been inspiring throughout. We just want to tell him thank you very much for all that he has done for cricket."Bravo's injury is a significant blow to TKR, who were also without Sunil Narine for the match against Kings. Narine is expected to return soon from a quad strain, while Andre Russell's workload is being managed due to a hamstring complaint.In the absence of Bravo and Narine, Pollard took on the bowling mantle, bowling his full complement of overs for the first time in the CPL since 2022. "I had to take the mantle with DJ [Bravo] going down and Russell isn't 100% fit," Pollard said.Du Plessis, who played alongside Bravo at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, paid tribute to the CPL stalwart. "Sad to see DJ Bravo finishing in that way," du Plessis said. "He's obviously someone that I've admired for a long time. He's done so much for everyone around the Caribbean."Bravo is the most decorated player in the CPL, having won five titles in all, including three with TKR. He led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first title in 2021.

Bangladesh Pacer Shoriful Islam Ruled Out of India Test Series Due to Groin InjuryBangladesh's hopes of continuing their Test success in India have been dealt a blow with the news that pacer Shoriful Islam will miss the two-match series due to a groin injury.Shoriful, 23, played a key role in Bangladesh's historic Test series win in Pakistan, taking three wickets in the first Test in Rawalpindi. However, he sustained the injury during the match and was unable to feature in the second Test.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed Shoriful's absence in a statement on Thursday, saying that he is still recovering from the injury and is unavailable for the series.The injury is a significant setback for Bangladesh, who are looking to build on their momentum after defeating Pakistan. The team will now have to rely on their other pacers, including Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Syed Khaled Ahmed, to provide the necessary firepower.Despite the absence of Shoriful, Bangladesh will still be confident of putting up a strong fight against India. The team has a number of experienced players, including Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das, who have all performed well in Test cricket.India, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their dominance in Test cricket. The team is currently ranked seventh in the ICC Test rankings, seven places ahead of Bangladesh. India is also leading the World Test Championship standings.The first Test between India and Bangladesh will begin on September 19 in Chennai, while the second match will start on September 27 in Kanpur.

Ishan Kishan's Surprise Inclusion in Duleep Trophy Raises QuestionsIn a surprising turn of events, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has made an unexpected appearance in the playing XI of the India C team in the second round of the Duleep Trophy. This development has raised eyebrows, as Kishan was previously ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury.The confusion began when Kishan, a regular in India's cricket squad until last year, was initially ruled out of the Duleep Trophy's first round. The BCCI had announced his injury, sustained during the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament, with Sanju Samson named as his replacement in the India D squad.When the second round squad lists were released, Kishan was not mentioned, and there were no updates about his recovery. However, on September 12, Kishan appeared in the playing XI for India C against India B, causing speculation and confusion among fans and cricket analysts. The second-round announcement had stated no changes in the India C team, adding to the surprise.The uncertainty over how Kishan, initially ruled out with an injury, suddenly joined the India C lineup has escalated without an official statement from the BCCI. Previously, Kishan had stepped away from cricket due to mental health issues, causing him to be dropped from the Indian squads and lose his central contract. His recent century in the Buchi Babu Invitational was seen as a positive sign of his return.With Kishan's unexpected inclusion in the Duleep Trophy, fans await clarification from the BCCI. The situation has led to further speculation about his future in Indian cricket. Some believe that his inclusion indicates a return to form and a potential recall to the national team, while others question the timing and circumstances of his recovery.The BCCI's silence on the matter has only added to the intrigue surrounding Kishan's inclusion. It remains to be seen whether the board will provide an official explanation or whether Kishan's return will remain shrouded in mystery.

Australia's pace bowling woes continue as Xavier Bartlett joins the injury list with a side strain sustained during the first T20I against England in Southampton. Bartlett's injury, if confirmed to end his tour, would add to the absences of Spencer Johnson (side) and Nathan Ellis (hamstring).Bartlett's impressive performance in the match, claiming the wicket of Jordan Cox and extracting swing on a cold night, was cut short by his injury. The selectors now face the prospect of bringing in Riley Meredith, who was retained for the England T20 matches after Ellis's injury, for the second T20I in Cardiff on Friday. Allrounders Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly are also options for the side.The selectors have yet to confirm who will replace Ellis in the one-day squad. New South Wales left-armer Ben Dwarshuis is set to join the team ahead of the ODIs, but his role is currently limited to providing cover.Bartlett's injury is a setback for the Australian team, as he had not been included in the ODI squad despite his impressive performances against West Indies earlier this year. The side injury could also impact his availability for the start of the domestic season with Queensland, with the Marsh Cup beginning later this month and the Sheffield Shield starting in early October.Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood made a strong return to action in Southampton, taking 2 for 32 from his four overs, including the crucial wicket of Liam Livingstone. Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will be part of the one-day series, while Pat Cummins is missing the entire tour to focus on strength and conditioning ahead of the home summer.

Lance Morris, Australia's emerging fast bowler, has endured a frustrating rehabilitation from a recurring back injury. Despite the setbacks, Morris remains optimistic about his return to action, targeting the Sheffield Shield ahead of the Test series against India.Morris's injury woes began during the ODI series against West Indies in February, where he suffered a side strain that ended his season. Subsequent scans revealed a hot spot in his back, ruling him out of Australia's tour of Scotland and England.The injury is a recurrence of the stress fracture that sidelined Morris during the 2023 Ashes tour. Morris admits the situation has been frustrating, especially given the lack of back pain while bowling. However, regular MRI check-ins have shown positive signs of healing.Despite being unable to bowl for eight weeks, Morris maintained his fitness through running and gym work. He acknowledges the importance of a cautious approach to avoid a prolonged absence.Morris's return to competitive cricket will begin with Australia's domestic 50-over competition later this month. He aims to gradually build up his bowling loads before making his red-ball comeback in the Sheffield Shield.Western Australia, the three-time defending Shield champions, start their season against Queensland on October 8. Morris hopes to be available for the first or second round of the competition.With concerns over Australia's pace depth behind Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, a strong performance in the Shield could propel Morris into the Test mix. However, he remains realistic about his chances.Meanwhile, WA left-arm quick Liam Haskett will miss the first half of the Sheffield Shield season due to a stress fracture in his back. The injury is a recurrence of one he suffered a few years ago.

Mark Wood, England's premier fast bowler, has been dealt a major setback as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a bone-stress injury to his right elbow. This unfortunate news means that Wood will miss England's upcoming Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.Wood's injury woes began during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, where he suffered a right thigh strain while bowling. As a precautionary measure, he was withdrawn from the ongoing series. However, subsequent scans revealed a more concerning issue in his right elbow, which Wood had been experiencing discomfort in.In a heartfelt Instagram post, Wood expressed his disappointment and frustration: "During what I thought was a routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I've got some bone stress in my right elbow."This diagnosis has forced Wood to withdraw from England's remaining six Tests of the year, three against Pakistan in October and three against New Zealand in December. The ECB medical team will continue to monitor Wood's progress closely, with the aim of having him fully fit by early 2025. This would allow him to participate in England's white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, which is scheduled to begin in February 2025.Wood's absence is a significant blow to England's bowling attack. His pace and aggression have been instrumental in England's recent Test successes. His ability to generate reverse swing has also been a key factor in his effectiveness.England will now have to find a suitable replacement for Wood in their Test squad. Potential candidates include Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, and Craig Overton. However, none of these bowlers possess the same combination of pace and swing as Wood.Wood's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of fast bowling. The constant stress on the body can lead to a variety of injuries, including bone stress fractures. It is important for bowlers to manage their workload carefully and to listen to their bodies when they are feeling pain.

Jos Buttler's injury woes continue as he has been ruled out of England's T20I series against Australia and could potentially miss the subsequent ODI series. The setback in his recovery from a right calf injury has cast a shadow over England's transition towards a younger core under new coach Brendon McCullum.Buttler, England's limited-overs captain, sustained the injury in July while preparing for the Hundred. He had hoped to make his comeback in Lancashire's Vitality Blast quarter-final on Wednesday, but the aggravation of the injury has put his participation in the rest of the summer in jeopardy.Phil Salt, who has limited captaincy experience, will assume the captaincy duties for the T20I series and is also expected to keep wicket. Harry Brook, Ollie Pope's vice-captain during England's Test series against Sri Lanka, is set to lead the ODI leg of Australia's tour.Jamie Overton has been called up as a replacement in the T20I squad, while Jordan Cox has been added to the ODI squad as cover. England remain hopeful that Buttler can play some part in the ODI series, but his absence would be a significant blow as they look to rejuvenate the team after disappointing World Cup campaigns.This setback is particularly concerning for Buttler, who has now suffered three calf injuries in the past four years. As he approaches his 34th birthday, his future as captain and his longevity as an international cricketer may depend on giving up wicketkeeping duties to preserve his body.